Interview with Emma Fuhrmann
Photo credit: The Hendershotts
Styling: Karen Raphael
Glam: Deborah Ferullo and Steve Mason
Glitter recently sat down with Emma Fuhrmann who plays Espn, Adam Sandler’s middle daughter in the upcoming movie, Blended, alongside Drew Barrymore. Emma also talks about what it was like working with Morgan Freeman and Rob Reiner in The Magic of Belle Isle, what the best advice she’s ever received, what it was like growing up in the business, what it was like working with the cast of Blended, and what’s up next for Emma. Read on to find out about this amazingly talented actress.
GLITTER: What is it like growing up in the industry? Has it changed you any?
EMMA: Growing up in the entertainment industry has been very unique I would say. My life is very different in that I have to be ready for anything- whether it be a same day audition, flying out to meet a director, going to a photo shoot, staying active on my social media accounts or doing publicity for a film. I have to be flexible and so do my friends because sometimes I have to drop everything to go where I need to be. It takes a lot of dedication to be doing what you love. Doing all these things outweighs anything else I’d want to do!
I don’t think it’s changed me at all because I have that support back home n Texas and when I’m home I can just relax and be me! I probably know a lot more about life than a typical girl my age because I read so many scripts, but I love reading them and seeing what adventure I might go on! I hope to do a period piece someday and just learn what it’s like to live in another time. If anything it’s changed me for the better!
GLITTER: What was it like working with Morgan Freeman in The Magic of Belle Isle?
EMMA: Working with the iconic Morgan Freeman was like a dream come true! I was actually offered another movie role at the same time I was offered The Magic of Belle Isle and I just remember flying home from the audition thinking how could I not work with Morgan Freeman and Rob Reiner? The first day on set I was only going to be doing one small outdoor scene in the afternoon with my movie sisters, but it started to rain and so they switched the schedule around to an indoor scene and it happened to be the BIGGEST scene with Morgan in the movie! This was on my FIRST DAY people!! We did a rehearsal and Morgan completely put me at ease and made it so natural and easy to deliver the lines! Piece of cake! He also helped me through a challenging scene in the movie where I tell my first story. He and I went and sat by the edge of the lake and just spent some time rehearsing the lines together – just the two of us. People were taking pictures of us and I’m so glad they did because now I can look back and remember that special moment that we shared and only I know what we talked about. It was really amazing, they even talked about using those pictures for the poster of the movie but Morgan is in the wheelchair in the movie and he wasn’t sitting in it while we were talking so it wouldn’t have worked.
During set-ups he would do his crossword puzzles or he’d be singing with Rob Reiner these really old songs. I even talked him into taking selfies with Photo Booth on my iPad- those pictures are hilarious. It was a lot of fun to work with him and something I will never forget! Virginia Madsen played my mom on that film as well and she and I still get together when I’m in LA and the same with movie sisters, Madeline Carroll and Nicolette Pierini. I made forever friendships on that movie set and that’s what makes it so amazing to me and why it’s what I want to continue to do!
GLITTER: What was it like working with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in the upcoming comedy, Blended?
EMMA: I’ve got to separate this question out because they were both so amazing that I can’t just lump them into one. In South Africa we were there for seven weeks together all staying at the same resort so we had unprecedented time with them and their families when we were off set. I mean, we ate together and did excursions together. So, Adam is the man on set…he’s so involved in everything from wardrobe to the lines we say to pretty much everything. He knows how to make a movie that people will love and he throws out the funniest lines to say during a scene- we spent a lot of time just cracking up! Off set, Adam is a huge family man and even invited me over to play with his daughters one night after wrap. He even sent a Christmas gift to my house at Christmas time! He’s pretty special to me!
Okay, so Drew was everything you think Drew to be…complete sunshine and happiness! She had cute little names for all the five kids in the movie – I was peanut. She also was so encouraging when we had a scene together and gave the biggest, warmest hugs! She allowed me to do one of her Flower Beauty Tip Tuesday videos and that was just a magical moment for me! Here I am working with this woman who grew up in the industry just like I am doing and she’s just so normal and loving and kind! I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to work with them both and it was a bonus to be in SOUTH AFRICA together!
GLITTER: Who do you play in Blended?
EMMA: I play Adam’s middle daughter, Espn. Yes, Espn, like the sports network…pretty cool name huh? The name was originally Sophie but they changed it at the screen test and it’s so much for fitting for my character- I love it! She’s a tomboy who loves sports and she has this terrible boyish haircut!! Thankfully, they let me wear a wig! Espn brings a lot of heart to the movie because she’s lost her mom and she just can’t let her go- it’s kind of sad. She’s now this imaginary mom that goes with her everywhere. Espn’s storyline evolves into this beautiful thing with Drew’s character and you’ll just have to go see it to find out what happens!
GLITTER: What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
EMMA: I keep getting the same advice and it’s to just stay who you are, stay grounded, stay sweet, and don’t ever change. Don’t change and be someone you don’t want to be or change for somebody! Just stay who you are in your heart! Another great piece of advise was to just always make it about something or someone else and never about yourself! That’s helped keep me focused on the bigger picture and not get caught up in the little stuff. This way I can put my energy into helping others through the blessings that I’ve been given!
GLITTER: I understand that you also love to design clothes. If you weren’t acting, is a fashion designer something you’d love to do instead?
EMMA: Absolutely! I hope I can do both someday- to continue acting in great films AND have my fashion line called Cate Couture!! Wouldn’t that be great? I can’t ever see myself not doing something in this industry whether it be in front of the camera or behind it directing, producing, or writing. Or maybe I’ll be a costume designer someday. You just never know!
GLITTER: What other projects are you working on right now?
EMMA: I just finished a movie with Josh Duhamel & Lynn Collins called Lost in the Sun. We shot that in Austin, Texas, and hoping it goes to Toronto in the Fall!
GLITTER: What is your favorite summer activity?
EMMA: I love to swim and if I hadn’t fallen in love with acting, I’d totally be swimming on a team somewhere -maybe even going for the gold on the Olympics someday. I might actually get back on my neighborhood swim team this summer and just go do some workouts with them. I can’t commit to the meets because I’m gone too much but I would love to get back in the pool and do more swimming this summer to just stay in shape and get some exercise! I also love to read so I plan to be spending a lot of time reading as well. Oh, and eating ice cream is important too, did I mention I really like sweets?
GLITTER: What trend are you most looking forward to this summer?
EMMA: I really like keeping up with people on my social media accounts. Are you following me?? When I’m trying to work and do school I don’t have a lot of time so this summer I really want to spend more time interacting with people and doing more Vine videos and Instagram pictures. I really like all the photography apps that are out there so one trend for me is to take more pictures and create cool art with the apps out of the pictures I take. I also want to do more fun Vines and try to do a vine of the day or vine of the week type thing. I just really enjoy making people smile and laugh by doing funny things but they are like everyday things, but you make them funny! So I hope you will follow me @emmafuhrmann on Twitter, @EmmaCfuhrmann on Instagram and @emmafuhrmann on vine this summer and hopefully I’ll have time to interact more! That’s the goal anyways! 🙂
GLITTER: If you could take any three things to a deserted island, what would they be and why?
EMMA: My cellphone of course, but then I’d have no electricity to charge it so hmmm that’s won’t last very long. So then I’d take a friend (or my dog Kirby) so I’d have someone to talk to and so I wouldn’t be lonely! I guess I’d take matches as one of my things so I could cook and make a fire! I go camping with my Dad at least once a year so I I’d probably need a tent too for shelter! Taking only 3 things would be really really hard!
GLITTER: If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why? What would you ask them?
EMMA: This is such a hard question because there are so many people that come to mind. I think I’d like to have dinner with Ellen Degeneres – she’s like the coolest person and I’m sure she’d make it so much fun! The only thing is it would probably be a vegan dinner and am still not too sure about how I like vegan food. They served a vegan meal at the Humane Society Gala I went to recently and it was good but my favorite part of the meal was the Sprinkles vegan cupcake they had so I guess as long as we had dessert I’d be okay!
I’d ask her if I we could go to The Gentle Barn together and play with the animals and film it but make it funny and entertaining so it could be on her show someday! We both really love animals and support The Gentle Barn so I think that would be a fun thing to do together and it’s for a good cause so I think she’d be willing to do that with me! Then I’d ask her to take a selfie with me! 🙂
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